Editor's Note:Laurie Anderson will be available for interviews from 4:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 1) in the Cleveland Hall Student Art Gallery (210 W. College St.) where "Dissonance and Harmony" projects submitted by members of the incoming class are on display. Please call 740-587-6266 if you are interested in attending this media availability session.

Performance artist Laurie Anderson will be on stage with a collaborative piece that combines music and visual art as Denison University presents the first All-College Convocation of the 2006-2007 academic year. The convocation will follow the theme "Dissonance and Harmony" selected for both First-Year Student Orientation and the McGregor Connections Initiative programs. Anderson's convocation, which is free and open to the public, is set for 8 p.m. on Friday (Sept. 1) in Swasey Chapel. Her performance film, "Home of the Brave," will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (Aug. 31) in the Slayter Hall Auditorium and is also open to the public.

Classically trained as a violinist in her native Chicago, Anderson also earned a master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Columbia University. She was attracted to the experimental art scene in New York in the 1970s and used her diverse talents to create large-scale theatrical works in response to current events, politics and literature.

Anderson's abilities to weave together in novel ways her voice and music, film and visual images, dance and a great many unexpected quirks of imagination and construction have made her one of the premier performance artists. Major works have included "United States I-IV" in 1983, "Empty Places" in 1990, "The Nerve Bible" in 1995 and "Songs and Stories for Moby Dick" in 1999.

One of the central themes in Anderson's work is exploring the effects of technology on human relationships as well as the role of technology in art and communication. As a result of her development of the "tape-bow" violin and her "talking stick," Anderson is recognized worldwide as a leader in the innovative use of technology in the arts. Denison students will have the opportunity to talk with her informally on Saturday in Mulberry House, where a digital media laboratory with special multimedia hardware and software is located.

The McGregor Connections Initiative annually identifies a theme that enables the college to highlight and enhance connections between academic disciplines. The goals of the initiative are to spotlight interdisciplinary intersections and initiate or support campus collaborations in an attempt to introduce students to the interplay between seemingly disparate fields of study and foster these connections in pursuit of new intellectual heights.

The 2006-2007 theme of "Dissonance and Harmony" encompasses the notion that clashes of difference -- in music, politics, social relations, perception of the world around us -- can lead to richer and more complex harmonies. Speakers sponsored by the Initiative and by other University funds will address the question of "What is the role of dissonance in creating harmony?" throughout the year. In addition to convocations, a film festival and concerts will explore the theme.

Works created by members of the new Class of 2010 and by faculty and staff members on the theme are on exhibit in the Cleveland Hall Student Gallery and will be included in a booklet produced by the Office of First-Year Students.

Calendar Listing:

CALENDAR LISTING: Denison University, Granville -- All-College Convocation featuring performance artist Laurie Anderson; 8 p.m., Friday (Sept. 1), Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). "Home of the Brave," a performance film by Laurie Anderson will be shown at 7:30 p.m., Thursday (Aug. 31), Slayter Hall Auditorium (200 North Road). Both events are free and open to the public. Call 740-587-6224 to confirm information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575